Life Blood of Albion

This short psychogeographical and spiritual reflection on the rivers of Britain and in particular the Thames perfectly evokes the magical currents and philosophy of the author. This piece was written for ASH magazine issue number 5, by Dave Hunt and was published in the Autumn of 1989.  Dave was founding editor of the magazine, and was an accomplished folk magician and cunning man who spent most of his life living in the south of Essex, close to the river Thames. Photos have been added to give some visual context, but were not part of the original article. Plus I have added Jim Kirkwood's illustration of the sword in the stone, as this sat opposite Dave's article in the original publication. 

Life Blood of Albion

Dave Hunt

The Thames at Leigh on Sea, Essex

Albion is a country of many rivers, some great, some small, but all contribute to the lush and fruitful quality of our island. I was once told by someone much wiser than me that water is the soul of the Goddess, and as such carries the spiritual energy that makes Albion a place of great sanctity and holiness. Surely then, the obvious sites for our work and worship must be in the vicinity of such waterways. Our forebears knew this, siting the majority of  their henges, places of meeting and worship, near to running water.

The great river that feeds our part of the land is of course the Thames, noble and impressive, despite the industry that clutters its banks, especially in London and eastwards towards the sea.. To stand on one of its bridges and gaze at the water that glides, silk-like, beneath  is in itself a spiritual experience. 

Rising near Cirencester, the river traverses almost all of southern Albion growing in magnitude as it runs eastward. And as it flows, it gathers from the earth the spirituality of all the places it passes. From the vales of Oxfordshire, past the Berkshire downs and the Chilterns, until it approached London and the flat lands of Essex and Kent, whence it joins the sea. On its journey it is fed by many tributaries, each bearing the energy of its own area.

River Isis, near Oxford

Northern streams carry the essence of Gloucestershire and the Cotswold Hills, with glorious names like Evenlold, which has one of its risings at Great Rollright, Windrush, Leach and Coln. From the south come the Key, Ray and Ock, the latter flowing from the Vale of the White Horse. Most of these waters join the Thames before Oxford, where for a few miles the river changes its name to Isis, before reverting once again to the Thames.

The next tributary joins at Reading, being none other than the river Kennett itself, especially blessed by having its birth at Avebury, surely our most sacred site. Skirting the Chiltern Hills, the Thames runs through the western approaches to London, until it at last reaches the Capital. From here it flows in a majestic sweep towards the North sea, carrying with it the combined spirituality of all the places along its length. Is it any wonder that, according to legend, the original London bridge was built on the blood and bones of sacrifice to appease the power of this mighty waterway.

Essex has always been called "The Witch County", especially in its southern half. Small wonder, when such a great tide of "Albion-ness" feed its land.